The Glad Café

Inspired by Café Oto in London’s ultra-hip Dalston, the family-owned Glad Café hosts a busy programme of events – predominately indie, electronica and folk concerts, but also film screenings, plays and more – in their intimate and well-equipped 120-capacity venue. At the same time, it also functions as a space for South Siders of all ages to eat, drink and socialise, be it over coffee and cake, a meal or a beer, in bright, airy, welcoming surrounds. The look is typically hip: stripped brickwork, pine wood floors and bar, exposed ventilation in the ceiling and a colourful painted mural wrapping around two walls.

Food ranges from breakfasts of brioche French toast, hot filled rolls and fruit and cereals, to lunches of sandwiches, soups, wraps and salads, to jumbo Mediterranean sharing plates available until late. Beer includes a variety of Williams Bros and WEST brews on tap.

You’ll find few other places in Glasgow more embedded within and responsive to the creative community it caters for and supports – and certainly no other south of the Clyde. The Glad Café even honours the building’s printing history by publishing a free community-focused arts and literature magazine called The Glad Rag.